Diaphragm closure for paste shoe polish container equipped with a dauber



Oct-6, 1953 H. L. AUTEN 2,654,110

DIAPHRAGM CLOSURE FOR PASTE SHOE POLISH CONTAINER EQUIPPED WITH A DAUBER Filed June 17. 1950 I 7 I IN V EN TOR My 1w? ATTORNEYS.

mm mm Patented Oct. 6, 19 53 DIAPHRAGM CLOSURE FOR PASTE POLISH CONTAINER EQUIPPED DAUBER SHOE WITH A Howard L. Auten, East Peoria, Ill.

ApplicationJune 17, 1950, Serial No. 168,764

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a polisher. The invention is particularly useful in connection with a container for paste or shoe polish.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the dauber or applicator is supported Within a diaphragm closure which permits movement of the dauber into a plurality of vertical positions. A further object is to provide a structure in which the dauber is fitted Within an arched shape closure, permitting clearance for it above the contents of the container when the closure is on the container. A still further object is to provide a closure provided with a flexible top in which is secured a dauber and permitting the movement of the dauber to elevated and depending positions. A still further object is to provide a metal or rigid rim structure around the outside of the closure for supporting and reinforcing a flexible diaphragm in which the applicator is secured. Yet another object is to provide a closure equipped with a diaphragm to which an applicator is secured on the inside and a handle extends on the outside of the diaphragm, whereby, through pressure upon the handles, the applicator may be moved into a position above the contents of the container when the closure is in position and to depending position when the closure is removed. Yet another object is to provide a polisher in which an applicator and polishing means are supported as a unitary portion of the container, the top surface of the closure being extended upwardly to provide a handle and the bottom surface of the container being equipped with polishing means. Yet another object is to provide a diaphragmequipped closure adapted for use with a polish container wherein a diaphragm in arched position is employed for supporting a dauber above the polish when the closure is in position, while permitting the dauber to be moved to a depending position Well below the diaphragm when the closure is removed. Other specific'objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrated embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a polisher em bodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the closure in removed position and with the dauber occupying a depending position; Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of the closure removed from .the container; and Fig. 5, a broken sectional view showing a modifled form of the invention.

In the structure shown, l0 designates a container which may be filled with polish H. The container l0 may be pressed inwardly to provide a peripheral groove l2, as shown best in Fig. 2. A plate l3 provided with a polishing surface I4 may be anchored to the bottom portion of the container Ill through the use of a spring flange or spring fingers l5 entering the recess [2 and being secured therein by a, snap ring IS. The plate [3 may be slotted at intervals so as to give the flanges or spring fingers l5 greater elasticity and tenacity in engaging the locking recess i2. The polishing surface 14 may consist of sheepskin with the leather side bonded to the metal plate or of any other suitable polishing material secured to the plate. If desired, the sheepskin or other polisher device may be employed without a plateand the leather or fabric portion l3 secured directly by the snap ring I5 The container may be provided'with a loosener bar I 6 pivotally-mounted upon the pin H.

The closure I8 may be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable shape. In the illustration given, I provide an arched closure which in effect provides a diaphragm. The diaphragm or closure l8 may be formed of metal, plastic or any other resilient type of material. Polyethylene plastic has been found very satisfactory and heavy cellophane, chlorinated rubber, rubber and synthetic rubber, and a large variety of materials may be used.

In the specific illustration given, I have shown a plastic closure l8 provided with a molded annular rim [8 on the exterior of the closure and a molded annularrim 20 on the lower portion of the closure. An applicator consisting of a brush holder 2| and bristles 22 extending from the I holder is secured tightly within the annular rim 20 on the underside of the closure, while a handle 23 tightly fits within the annular rim l9 on the upper side of the closure. A screw 24 secures the applicator and handle together. Instead of the screw, cement or other means mas be em- Ployed. r I

In the illustration given, the'closure member or diaphragm member I8 is provided with a metal ring 25 which provides a reinforcement for the lower edge of the closure and is found to be very efiective in bringing about a tight seal with the container I0. It will be understood, however, that the ring 25 may be omitted if desired. The closure or diaphragm l8, however, is formed of certain materials which do not form a tight seal with the container. The ring 25 is very effective in providing the desired tight seal and serves to prevent escape of volatile vapors from the polish material within the container.

The metal rim or ring may be riveted to the closure It or crimped over, as illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the metal rim is indicated by the numeral 25a.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the closure i8 is effective normally in maintaining the brush 22 in an elevated position and above the level of the polish il in the container by reason of the arched shape or diaphragmelikesstructurezof the closure. At the same time. if; the. operator: desires to apply polish upon the brush, he may depress the diaphragm l8 slightly to bringthe. brush into engagement with the polish. After the removal of the cover, therim-or the closuree may be held in one hand and lateral or downward pressure applied to the handle, making the diaphragm collapse, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Further downward pressure causes the diaphragm I8 to swing to the depending position shown in Fig. 3. In the'latterposition, the bruslr issuspended well below the diaphragm and. the polish may bethus readily applied to the shoes. It will be noted that the downward swinging of the diaphragm further protects the hands from contact with the brush and with the surfaces of the shoes to which fresh polish has been. applied; Ineffect; there is a raising of the rim or periphery of the closure so that it is out of the way or the shoes or objects to which the polish is applied, while at thev same time the rim occupies a more sheltering position around the fingers which grasp the'handle 23.

After theapplicator has been moved to its depending position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, it is then ready for use and,. by holding; the closure by the handle or closure rim, a quantity of paste may be picked up in the brush applicator and the user can apply the brush overthe shoes with. great speed.

After the polish has been applied to. thez'shoes, the closure may be restored. to its. originalposition by tilting the handle; to the intermediate position illustrated in Fig. 3 and then upward pressure on the lower side of the closurehandle causes. the closure to spring back to' its original shape; The closure may be placed. upon the. container and sealed. in the usual manner;

The bottom of the container, which, is now' supported by the-handle, may be employed as. a polisher for the'shoes to which thepaste or polish has been applied;

If desired, the applicator-equipped closure may be usedwith a variety of cans or polish. The ordinary cover'for the can may be discardedand the closure, I8 substituted. Thus the-applicator and its closure. may be efiectivel'y used for a. long. period of time.

With; the foregoing type or structure, it is. found that polish can be readily and accurately appliedtwithoutbringing the fingersinto contact with any polish particles, the diaphragm serving not only as, a means formaintaining'the briush above the top surface of the polish but also, whenthe closure is removed, projecting the brush downwardly to a point where: it isconsiderably below the fingers, and at the same. time providing.

4 a depression into which the fingers extend and by which they are protected from contact with the fresh polish applied to surfaces.

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth substantially a single structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be under stood thatsuchdetails or structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. A closure adapted for use with a polish container. comprising an upwardly arched diaphragm body providing a cavity and having a spring-urged portion around the mouth or said cavity. arranged to engage the outside of the rim oi the, container to form a seal therewith, a dauber'carried by said diaphragm and depending fromthe: lower central portion thereof, said dauber being entirely within said cavity when saiddiaphragm is inits upwardly arched position,. and. means for moving said diaphragm downwardly and. past center, whereby said. diaphragm, occupies a. depending positionwhich it willretain until pressed upwardly again by external. force past center, said dauber being exposed when said diaphragm is in its depending position.

2. Aniapplicator closure adapted 'for use with a, polish container, comprising an upwardly arched. diaphragm body providing. a cavity and having a rimportion around the mouth of said cavity arranged to frictionally engage the outside of the. rim of a container to form a seal therewith, adauber secured to saiddiaphragm within said cavity, said dauber being entirely within said cavity when said. diaphragm is in its.

upwardly. arched position, a handle secured to the upper portionofsaid diaphragm, said diaphragm, whendisengagedfrom said container, being ma.- nipulatable past center. to cause it to lie permanently ina depending. concave position providing a dishrlike shield about said handle with said dauber projecting. outwardly beyond said shield, saiddiaphragm retaining. its set, depending position. upon therelease. of pressure thereon.

3. Anapplicator closure adapted for use with a container filled with solids, comprising an upwardly archeddiaphragm body providing a cavity having. a rim portion around the mouth of said cavity arrangedto engage theperipheral edge of said container for solids, an applicator carried by said diaphragm within said cavity, said diaphragm in oneset position substantially enclosing said applicator, within said cavity, and said diaphragm being reversible-to a set depending position wherein said applicator is disposed outside of said cavity.

HOWARD L. AUTEN.

References Cited. inv the illev of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date 66,213 Burnet July 2, 1867 816;481 Lane Mar. 27, 1906 2,311,367 Chambers Feb. 16; 1943 2,487,635 Carpenter Nov. 8, 1949 

